Drink-driver used false name after ban

A DRINK-driver, who was involved in a collision while disqualified and registered as a driver in a false name, has been jailed.

Svjatoslavs Sitnovs, 22, of St Martin’s Way, Thetford, collided with a parked car which then went into another car – possibly writing off both of them, West Suffolk Magistrates’ Court heard on Friday.

He did not stop at the scene and police found him at an address where he gave a false name, the same one he used to buy insurance and register his Vauxhall Vectra.

Prosecuting, Ian Devine said Sitnovs denied driving the vehicle but a breath test revealed he had 49 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – more than the legal limit of 35.

It was later revealed that he had been disqualified from driving for 12 months in April for drink-driving.

Documents were then found at his home showing the vehicle and insurance were registered in the name of Sandis Andrievs.

He admitted seven charges relating to the incident on August 16, in St Martin’s Way, which were driving with excess alcohol, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, furnishing false particulars as to the keeper of the vehicle, making a false statement to obtain insurance, failing to stop after a road accident and obstructing a constable.

Claire Furlong, in mitigation, said: “He accepts he had a drink and made the very foolish decision to get behind the wheel of a car.”

She added he had given the false name to continue taking agency work as it was difficult to continue without the use of a car.

Sitnovs was jailed for 16 weeks, plus a further eight weeks to run concurrently, and was disqualified from driving for three years.